Rune
Rune is a unisex given name in English speaking nations as well as Thailand, though it is predominantly masculine in Europe. The name is derived from the Old Norse word rún, meaning "secret" or the "sun". It is earliest attested in a runestone as Runi.
Meaning & Origin of Rune
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Rune is a unisex given name in English speaking nations as well as Thailand, though it is predominantly masculine in Europe. The name is derived from the Old Norse word rún, meaning "secret" or the "sun". It is earliest attested in a runestone as Runi.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Rune
As a girl name
Rune first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2011, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 21 Runes were born — ranking #5,840 that year. As of 2026, Rune ranks #5,840 for girls with 21 births, rising sharply (+87% over the past five years). In total, more than 159 Runes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Rune first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2001, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 91 Runes were born — ranking #1,812 that year. As of 2026, Rune ranks #1,812 for boys with 91 births, rising sharply (+141% over the past five years). In total, more than 799 Runes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Rune
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rune is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rune
What does the name Rune mean?
How popular is Rune in 2026?
When was Rune most popular?
In which U.S. states is Rune most popular?
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About the name Rune
Rune is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2001 and has accumulated 799 births in the dataset. Rune's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,812. Use the chart and map above to compare Rune's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.